RAJ THACKERAY BREAKS A LEG, DEFERS AYODHYA VISIT

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday deferred his visit to seek to seek ‘darshan’ of Lord Rama at Ayodhya, scheduled for June 05, after fracturing his leg in a fall at his Mumbai residence.

He is scheduled for surgery to correct his broken bone, and he will address his party workers at Pune as scheduled on May 22, officials said.

Thackeray had announced the postponement in a tweet, sparking speculation that he was unsure about the reception he would get in Uttar Pradesh. BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Member of Parliament Brijbhushan Sharan Singh had threatened to obstruct the MNS chief’s visit unless he first apologized for perceived slights against the north Indian community in Maharashtra.

However, a senior BJP leader said, “Our party leaders from Maharashtra including Devendra Fadnavis have been clear from the start that Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya should not be disrupted. Unlike the perception being created in the news media, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had already decided to host the MNS leader at the state government guest house in Ayodhya when he decided to visit there.”

Reiterating that the BJP would not indulge in any such act, he added, “Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP CM are clear that anyone visiting Ayodhya should not be obstructed.”

The leader added that MP Singh’s initiative may stem from a personal agenda in the wake of a waning political career, but the party high command has noticed it and a suitable response will follow when appropriate-probably at the time of ticket distributions for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Singh is planning a show of strength in Ayodhya in the coming days.

Leader of the opposition in Maharashtra, Fadnavis also said on Friday that Thackeray had merely postponed- -and not cancelled--his Ayodhya visit. Meanwhile, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “I am instructed to not speak about the Ayodhya visit.”

Even as Raj Thackeray’s deferred Ayodhya visit made headlines, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut had indicated that state tourism minister, and nephew of the MNS chief, Aditya Thackeray had similarly pushed his visit to the holy city from June 10 to June 15 over the Rajya Sabha elections.

“Aaditya Thackeray’s June 15 visit to Ayodhya will continue as scheduled. He has other engagements including an invitation to visit the ISCKON temple there,” Raut confirmed.